Coffin



Patented Feb. 2!, I899. H. W. BOOTH.

BOFFIN.

(Application filed Sept. 13, 1897.)

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFF-ICE.

HENRY WOOD BOOTH, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

COFFIN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 619,929, dated February 21, 1899.

Application filed September 13, 1897. Serial No. 651,476. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY W001) BOOTH, a citizen of Great Britain, residing at Detroit, county of Wayne, State of Michigan, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Coffins; and I declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to coffins, and has for its object an improved coffin and device to be used therewith which is intended to cause a current of fresh air to flow over the surface of the body placed in the coffin for the double purpose of furnishing to the body, if by any chance the person should be still living, a supply of pure air, and which shall, if the body be dead, carry away the gases produced by decomposition.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective showing the coffin with the attachment applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a section through the lid of the cofiin and the bottom part of the attachment. Fig. 3 shows a chamber in which there is an Argand burner fed with gas. Fig. 4 shows a chamber containing a disinfectinglamp, and Fig. 5 is a detail.

The coffin difiers from the ordinary coffin only in that at the head end and near the top of the head end there is an inlet-opening for the ingress of fresh air and on the top, near the bottom of the coffin, there is an outletopening, into which there is inserted an outlet-pipe provided with means for producing a forced draft through the pipe, which shall draw air from within the coffin and convey it away.

A indicates a coffin of any ordinary form or shape provided with an inlet-opening a, which during the period that the body is lying in state is open and is thereafter closed by a removable cover or panel a.

The lid or cover of the coffin is provided with an outlet-opening, into which is inserted the bottom end of apipe or hood B, provided with a chimney b. The bottom end of the pipe or hood, immediately above the opening through the lid of the coffin, is large enough to inclose a lamp O, which is inserted through the door 01 and rests on a spider or bracket 6. Above the chamber made by the enlarged bottom of the pipe B is the chimney b, preferably a tube of small diameter, arranged to produce aforced draft through the coffin from the inlet a and thereby at all times furnish a complete ventilation of the coffin, filling it with pure air and carrying oif anyimpurities.

The lamp C may be an ordinary lamp burning hydrocarbon oil, orit may be arranged, if desired, to burn a disinfectant, which will serve to destroy any disease-germs or foul matter passing out from the coffin. The flame may be, if desired, a gas-flame burning in an Argand burner, in which all the air passing out from the coffin is compelled to pass directly through the burner in immediate contact with the flame.

In Fig. 5 1 have shown a plate a adapted to close off the orifice in the COffiIl-lld when the pipe B is removed. This plate may be inscribed with the name, date, 850., if desired.

What I claim is 1. The combination with a coffin provided with an air-inlet opening, and having an airoutlet opening in the top thereof, of a bottomless hood supported by the coffin-top over said outlet-opening and having a contracted top, a chimney connecting with said contracted hood-top, an open support within said hood, and alamp supported by said support within said hood below the top thereof so as to cause a circulation of air from said outlet-opening around the lamp and through said chimney.

2. The combination with a coflin provided at one end with an air-inlet opening, and in the top near the other end with an air-outlet opening, of a bottomless hood supported over said outlet-opening by the coffin, a burner within said hood below the top thereof, means for supporting said burner within said hood so as to cause a circulation of air from the coflin through said hood, and a chimney connecting with said hood.

In testimony whereof I sign this specification in the presence of two witnesses.

HENRY WOOD BOOTH.

Witnesses:

CHARLES F. BURTON, VIRGINIA M. CLOUGH. 

